City Commission to Mull Landmark Status for Historic 1903 Cottage on South Oak Knoll Avenue

A historic cottage on South Oak Knoll Ave. in Pasadena may soon become a landmark, pending approval from the city. The property owners have applied for the designation, which would recognize the home’s architectural and historical value.

Built in 1903, the cottage is a rare example of the Vernacular Hipped Cottage style, which was popular in early 20th-century Pasadena, a report by the Department of Planning and Community Development said. The one-story home features a hipped roof, a recessed front porch, and a stone foundation. 

The report said the application for landmark designation only covers the primary residence on a rectangular shaped lot on the east side of South Oak Knoll Ave. south of East California Blvd. The property also includes a secondary detached residential building on the northeast corner of the lot built in 1921 and reconstructed in 1947.

The Vernacular Hipped Cottage style was prevalent in early 20th-century Pasadena, characterized by one-story, box-like cottages with hipped roofs, dormers, and partial-width recessed front porches. 

The Planning Department said the home has retained many original features and has a high level of integrity, with many original features, such as the wood clapboard siding, shingle lap siding, Arroyo stone foundation, and distinctive paneled-wood and glazed front door. 

The Department is recommending that the cottage be designated as a landmark under the Pasadena Municipal Code, particularly because the property embodies a locally significant architectural style and period. The secondary building on the property, according to the report, is “non-contributing” to the recommended designation.

A landmark designation would provide the property owners with historic preservation tax incentives and grants, as well as protect the home from inappropriate alterations or demolition. The designation would also enhance the cultural and aesthetic value of the neighborhood and the city, the Planning Department said. 

The Historic Preservation Commission will review the recommendation on Tuesday, Aug. 15, before passing it on to the City Council for approval.

Tuesday’s meeting is open to the public and begins at 6 p.m. in the Hearing Room of the George Ellery Hale Building at 175 N. Garfield Ave.